(September 29, 2011) Delegates from around the Pacific Rim have concluded the largest set of high-level diplomatic talks to be held in San Francisco.

Hosting the September 12 through September 26 gathering was the CalAPEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) committee, of which the California Chamber of Commerce is a founding member.

California’s participation in APEC was first announced at the CalChamber Council for International Trade (CIT) meeting in 2008 by CIT member Paul Oliva, who since has been directing the CalAPEC organization.  

CalChamber 2011 Chair S. Shariq Yosufzai (left) of Chevron and Singapore Consul General Hock Seng Chin

The core mission of the APEC is to promote trade and investment among the Asia-Pacific member economies, strengthen economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as make regional economic growth more inclusive and sustainable.

 The APEC Senior Officials’ meeting attracted approximately 3,000 delegates representing the 21 APEC member economies. In total there were 100 foreign ministers, Cabinet-level ministers and ambassadors participating.

Dignitaries

Dignitaries attending the APEC gathering included U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

 The schedule included 150 official and public-private sessions and functions. There were an intensive series of meetings, including the Senior Officials' Meeting, working group and committee meetings, together with public-private forums involving senior government and private sector leaders. Discussions centered on energy, transportation, women and the economy, digital prosperity, health care innovation, and many other topics. 

The positive local economic impact of the APEC is expected to total at least $20 million.

With statements on topics ranging from transportation, energy, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and women in the economy, APEC leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, will meet next in Honolulu in November for the final 2011 meeting hosted by the U.S.

San Francisco Topics

In San Francisco, APEC transportation ministers pledged to continue working toward a safe, secure, seamless, and sustainable transportation system. At the conclusion of the ministerial meeting, a joint ministerial statement was issued covering: promoting green growth and innovation in transportation; enhancing regulatory cooperation; and strengthening regional economic integration.

 The summit addressed access to capital and markets for women, building their capacities and skills, and supporting the rise of women leaders in the public and private sectors. Participants also discussed innovation, green growth, technology, entrepreneurship, and public-private partnerships.

 APEC trade ministers had already identified three "next generation" trade and investment issues: facilitating global supply chains; enhancing SME participation in global production chains; and promoting effective, non-discriminatory and market-driven innovation policy.

CalChamber Members

Supporting the effort to bring the Senior Officials' Meeting to San Francisco were a number of CalChamber member companies, including:  

• Bank of America; 
• Better Place; 
• Cange International, Inc.; 
• Chevron Corporation (S. Shariq Yosufzai of Chevron is the 2011 CalChamber chair);  
•  Cisco Systems, Inc.; 
• DeVry Inc.; 
• Echelon; 
• Levi Strauss & Co;  
• Marvell Technologies; 
• Otis-McAllister, Inc.; 
• Toyota USA; 
• USS-POSCO Industries; 
• Visa Inc.; and 
• W.J. Byrnes & Co.

Christopher Reynolds of Toyota Motor Sales, USA Inc. and  Margaret Wong of McWong International, Inc., both members of the CalChamber Board of Directors, were delegates.

The APEC 2011 California Host Committee, or CalAPEC, was the local host committee for APEC 2011 talks. It is a statewide coalition of business, government and international organizations under the umbrella of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute and the CalChamber. The committee also ensured that U.S. objectives reflect good policy for the Golden State as California is more dependent on Asia-Pacific business than any other U.S. state.

Susanne Stirling, CalChamber vice president of international affairs, was a private sector adviser to the U.S. delegation.

Staff Contact: Susanne Stirling